Thanksgiving in France

This is my first Thanksgiving I've ever celebrated without my family - and I sure was missing those guys all day!

When I think of Thanksgiving, I picture the center counter at 250 crammed with bowls and platters of turkey, potatoes, veggies, and STUFFING; and going to sit down at the big table; and Lil says something like, "Now, everyone, sit next to someone you don't talk to often!"; and we do; and I get asked awkward questions about my college life BUT HEY IT'S OKAY because I'm with my family and I love everyone and Thanksgiving is probably my favourite holiday :)

2012 will be the year of that-time-I-had-Thanksgiving-in-France-because-I-was-living-there. And that's something I'll always remember, too.

IAU was awesome and they put together this great dinner for us! As you can see, we sat at these huge, long tables and I had all my new friends around and we were just laughing and taking pictures and eating and drinking; and we kept marveling at the fact that "guys, we are in a cave in France and we're celebrating Thanksgiving!" Like, woah!

Not quite the feast that my family puts together, but God bless the French people for trying! There was turkey (a miracle), mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, creamed corn, meatloaf, and gravy. And baguettes of course! I inhaled my first plate and got seconds soon after. So hungry! And so happy! We had pumpkin pie for dessert, too. A lot of people said it didn't taste like pumpkin, but that's because in America we always have canned pumpkin pie with all that condensed milk and crap. But here, since they don't know that's how we do it in America, the used real pumpkin! So this was probably the realest pumpkin pie I'll ever eat!

 friends!

 beaujolais nouveau!

After dinner we walked to Cours Mirabeau to see the new Christmas markets that are set up. So pretty at night! But they were closed; I went home to change; and then we all went to see the huge fountain that has lights too.

what the rotunde usually looks like

We ended up going literally, inside the fountain (all the water is shut off, don't worry) and just hung out there for a while. For those of you who don't intimately know the layout of Aix-en-Provence, the fountain at La Rotunde is, well, huge. It is at the center of the main traffic circle and at the end of Cours Mirabeau, which is the main street... basically, in the middle of all the action. And we were climbing it like a jungle gym!

 

The police drove by a few times and a couple groups of people pointed and stared at us; but no one said anything! Ah, those Frenchys, they really don't care, do they? :)

 yes, yes. happy arms. i know

 
our fountain-climbing group

After a bit of a photoshoot :P we went to the Cathedral to rally the rest of the troops.

Then we went out to our regular haunt, the bar street, and hung around with French people for the rest of our Thanksgiving hours.

But for the most part, I was with all Americans! And all of us wanted to hang out and be together, since not with our families, for Thanksgiving, the most American holiday there is.

This year, I have a lot to be thankful - the most basic of which is that I am in France right now!

I am also thankful for my family, who has grown and changed so much over the years but never grown too big (impossible!) and never changed too much, who has been there for me at every moment big or small, and who I love dearly; for my friends, the new ones and the old ones, the close ones and the far ones, the ones I haven't met yet; for my education at DU and being able to live in Denver; for everything I've learned in the past year about myself and about the world; for all the teachers I've had in my life, lest they know it or not; and for my health.

Whew! What a list!

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving everyone :)

xxo, S

Some culture and history in Prague

Thursdsay in Prague-

While Stu picked out a Czech gift to bring her grandmother when she visits Ireland this weekend, I wandered around the store. It's called Manufaktura, and there are several in Prague. Lots of traditional items to bring home as souvenirs.  

 some felt fairies that reminded me of nova toys

 

another traditional crafts shop

We also went to an English bookstore where I attempted to find a specific book that I've been looking for (Broken Harbour, Tana French). They have it in the U.S., but only in hardcover and it is just soooo expensive; sadly, this store only had the hardcover copy too. So instead, I bought Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy! I began reading it on my flight home to France and it's great so far! I just love how quickly suspense novels move - perfect for my short attention span!

 

reading in bed

the second wedding couple i've seen, and the bride had a fuzzy white coat both times! 

I got to tag along on Stu's Art and Architecture class in the afternoon. Basically, their class goes on lots of field trips to art museums and to see architecture (for, like, four hours), so it wasn't strenuous, and I actually ended up actually learning! We went to the Baroque Arts museum in the castle (hradčany) district, looking at paintings, armour, and artifacts in the basement. Some facts (from Stu's really crazy professor) to share with you all:

• the Renaissance was all about coming up with new ideas, and pushing the intellectual envelope; so architecture from the Renaissance has lots of small rooms where people could sit around, talk, and think without being bothered.
• in contrast, the Baroque period was about showing off, so much of the architecture from that period, like the Castle Square, is designed for people to be able to look at the royals' and nobles' wealth.
• the amount of religious monuments, statues, buildings, references, and relics is disproportionate to the amount of pious people in the Czech Republic. for example, only about 10% of people practice religion, but there are huge, attention-grabbing churches everywhere; in the U.S. closer to 70% of people practice religion, but our Separation of Church and State (and since our history only goes back so far, to simpler, Puritan times) makes it so that there is much less of these religious symbols in plain sight.
• whoever King Rudolph II was, he was crazy!
• Bohemia refers to the region of the Czech Republic that Prague is in. as a sovereign region, it has been around much longer than the country itself. historically, it is one of the three Czech Lands, along with Moravia and Silesia.
• Czechs had curved swords back in the day, too! like samurai swords, the shape of their blade was more "economical at killing people," as the professor said. in other words, more aerodynamic when slicing through the air to meet some poor guy's neck.

After class, me, Stu, and one of her housemates went to get dinner at a nearby brewery. The brewery is one of the originals in Prague, and is located near a monastery so that the monks could go there during their down time (naturally... why didn't I think of that?). My last night in Prague :( But I had good company, good food, and good drink! I ordered some traditional Czech beef thing (not goulash) in a creamy tomato sauce... and it came with whipped cream on top! Never would've thought to put sweet whipped cream on my meat! It was delish anyway, although I didn't eat it with the whipped cream. The house beer was good too. I had their IPA and Stu got their amber brew. Well, it better have been good since it was made right there!!!

 reminds me of the barrington brewery

After dinner, we walked back home alllllll the way down the castle hill and through Mala Strana and on the tram and down the street and up the stairs.

We collapsed on the couch, watched The Parent Trap (the Lindsay Lohan one, of course, such a classic), and went to bed.

xxo, S

End of week four

HOLY BAJEEZUS! Can you believe I've just finished up week four of being in Aix??? Because it is blowing my mind right now!

Anyway, some thoughts from this week that I've been saving up just for you:

1) When French people hold cigarettes it's like it's just an extension of their hand. Almost like it isn't even there, just lightly resting between two fingers. If a strong enough wind blew by, the cigarette could just fly right out of their hand. But they keep a surprisingly strong yet dainty grip and drag on that thing 'til it's all gone. That is why Americans think the French look so cool when they smoke; the elegance and grace and sheer carelessness of it. Like, "Yeah I'm smoking a cigarette that is slowly burning away my insides, but I'm holding it like it's no big deal, and in fact I didn't even realize I was doing it, so whatever, it's cool." It's official: if I were a real Frenchie, I'd take up smoking. Sorry family, it's true. So for the sake of my lungs, you all better hope I never decide to move here!

2) Passing people on the skinny sidewalks of Aix is pretty strange. At first, I thought I was being rude to them by not getting out of the way. Then I realized, someone in this city has to let me pass someday, right? False. But I think I figured out what the mindset is. Since the sidewalks are so narrow, it's safer to be on the inside, closer to the buildings and away from the street. Forcing someone to pass you on the outside is rude, so either step aside, or you pass on the outside.
I could be wrong, but this is what I've decided is a possible answer to the weird phenomenon.

3) When I order a café allongé and sit at a cafe for a while, it's too small of a drink; but when I'm in a rush and order one, it's too much.

4) Cars who drive in the streets of Aix are crazy. Stick shift doesn't make French drivers any better. Is it because they learn how to drive so late (eighteen years old) that they basically suck at driving? No one can parallel park. And why on earth would you drive through the city streets if you can help it??? People walk in the middle of the street all the time and are so not moving for you. Bizarre.

5) For a project, I have to sit at a cafe and observe its "micocosme of life." I told my professor which cafe I had chosen - the Brasserie de la Mairie at Place de l'Hotel de Ville - and she told me it is un café très aixois! A very "Aix" cafe!!! And it's my favourite cafe in Aix! So I'm very "Aix" too!!!

6) In my French class on Friday, I learned about a growing trend in France. Families are moving to the South where the weather is more agreeable year-round; then the dad/mom travels for work to Paris, Lyon, Milan, Genoa, wherever for several days during the week; and comes home for the weekend. Because of the advancements of the TGV (train system) in the past ten years, it has become easier to travel for work - and people can live in a sunnier place when they aren't working!

Happy Saturday! Last post about Barcelona is in the works.
Shout out to all my friends and family back home who are reading - I miss all of you so much and it means a lot that you put up with my spastic writing style :) BIG HUGS!

xxo, S

Barcelona Day One (Friday)

28 September 2012

Before I went to Barcelona, I was excited about a few key things. Once you understand them, you’ll understand why the weekend ended up the way it did. Sorta.

1) SPANISH FOOD

This included, and was not limited to, paella, tapas, and sangria. I was also looking forward to some sandwiches (tortas) and possibly Spanish wine.

2) Seeing the sights in one day

While it sounds pretty ridiculous, I was prepared to see this city up and down in just one day, by foot or bus or metro, for cheap. Top sights on my list included the Park Güell, “The Cathedral,” the port, the beach, and the Gothic quarter.

3) Getting out of Aix for the weekend

I’ve been having a great time here, but when you live, study, and party in the same ten-block radius, it gets really old really fast. So hitting up a brand-new city was going to be a nice change of pace.

4) Hangin’ wit ma frendz

I’ve met so many people in the IAU program and we are all still so high-on-life about this entire study abroad experience, it’s unreal! Literally, I’m amazed at how close we’ve gotten so quickly.

It’s awesome.

Okay, so we all now understand Stephanie’s Four Goals of The Trip. Remember these for later.

After class ended at 10:30a, I went to catch my bus at 1:30p (13h30); we would arrive in Barça around 10pm (22h). Eight hours – yusssss. The first hour consisted of us babbling excitedly and getting comfy in our seats. At the first stop, Avignon, there was a restroom that we would be able to use. Most of us had to pee and the bus driver told us we only had ten minutes so we scrambled off the bus and towards the “toilettes” sign.

Little did we know this would be the creepiest bathroom any of us had ever seen. You could smell it from at least ten yards away and while we could probably get past the smell, the dim lighting, wet floors, graffitied walls, and lack of toilet seats and toilet paper really sent us running. Me, K-Bird, and Princess Anastasia (yeah you have a name, you better like it, girl) decided we would find another toilette, so we booked it away from the bus station, up a broken escalator (covered in broken glass), and into a nearby hotel. At first, we were told we wouldn’t be allowed to use the bathroom since we weren’t guests. But K-Bird used some most-excellent French skills to insist that we would buy bottles of water, if we could just please, please use the bathroom. So the guy gave in, we quickly peed (in a very nice setting I might add! So worth it), bought water in fancy glass bottles, and high-tailed it back to the bus.

Whew – we made it! And we were back on our way to Barcelona.

The remainder of or bus ride has consisted of trying to open the bathroom door on the bus; being loud Americans and annoying the bus driver; befriending a random French kid sitting nearby who was going to Barça to visit his girlfriend; and popping champagne in the last three hours. Casual.

Seven hours later, we finally arrived.

It was dark, we were tired and carrying baggage, no one knew where we were going, no one knew how to speak Spanish, and as each second dragged by, I became increasingly concerned that we were getting a big ol’ target painted on us that said: Americans – easy pickin’

sorry, i had to include this haha

Thinking on my feet, I used the poco, poco d’español that I’d picked up from Mexico, my brothers, and Taco Bell to ask the bus station guys for directions to our hostel neighbourhood. But when I asked they told me it was really dangerous and we should avoid it at all costs. Red flag. Sorry, I said, but that’s where our hotel is, we have to go there. Oh no, they quickly replied, it’s not that bad. Lies. But thanks anyway, dude.

Back out to the group, we decided to take taxis to be safe and split the cost. Using everything I’ve learned from living in NY, I rallied the troops and ordered that we go find taxis! Soon, we found a bunch outside of a hotel and began to pile in. I told my cab lady yo quiero tres taxis and she helped get the hostel info out to the other cab drivers; in no time at all, we were all safe in cabs and headed to our hostel.

Before I had ever stayed in a hostel (i.e. before my trip to Ireland last August), I thought they were really scary places filled with cobwebs and heroin addicts. Since then, however, I have come to learn that they can really be quite nice. We stayed at a placed called The Hipstel, which I highly recommend if you ever go to Barcalona. Totally did not break the bank; everyone was accommodating to our huuuuuuge group (around twenty people in total); it was clean, new, and safe; and actually in an awesome location! Those bus guys had no idea what they were talking about. We were literally three blocks from Las Ramblas, as I would later find out, and some very classy stores and restaurants.

 entryway at the hipstel

 outside the dining room

next to the dining room

The Hipstel was offering a “pub crawl” that night. I use this term lightly because, having been to real pub crawls in Galway and Dublin, this was more like a guided tour through Barça’s nightlife. But it was good anyway. 8€ later, every single one of us was headed towards a bar with our English guide, Tony. The bar we went to was really cool! Apparently they have good tapas, too, but we just chilled on their comfy couch seats and enjoyed orange-grapefruit-mystery shots and Amstel. Thinking back, I never had any Spanish beer in Barcelona. Oh well – another time.

me, my besties... and tony

at the bar with princess anastasia 

After that, we went to a club that makes me laugh whenever I remember it.

You have to understand that “pub crawls” are illegal in Barcelona, so we were technically all breaking the law; if asked about it, we had sworn to insist that we were all friends of Tony so he wouldn’t get in trouble. Anyway, the club we went to was not somewhere I would have picked out on my own, but still fun. The music was the most hilarious: it was some jazz-pop-Cuban fusion that you sorta bounced around to. At least it was free!

In the end, we decided to leave early – as in, before the tour was technically over. So we grabbed cabs and headed back to the hostel, only to realize it was 3AM so we went straight to bed. But by “we” I mean all the girls; apparently we had accidentally left Jim Carey buying a drink at the club – oops! Don’t worry, he made it back safely. But not without giving us endless grief for it the next day.

And that was just Day One!

More soon…

xxo, S

Happy October 3rd!

Today is important for several reasons:

1) It's officially been one whole month since I arrived in France! The time has absolutely flown by and I can't believe everything that's happened already. From making new friends to seeing new places, the past month has been fantastic (albeit, with some ups and downs). I can't wait for everything that's left to come... but also don't want it to go by too quickly!

2) Today is Debate Day. That's right - the first Presidential Debate of the 2012 election year. And do you where it's being held?! THE UNIVERSITY OF DEVER! That's right - my school is hosting it :)

Facebook is blowing up with updates from people who were picked in the lottery to get a ticket to the actual debate and with photos from the madness that is campus right now. Think lots of media, security, and apparently lots of fences, too. Classes are all cancelled for the day (lucky) and I won't get to watch the debate live since it would be at 3am France time (8 hour time difference). Anyway, so proud to be a DU student today and I can't wait to hear about how the debate goes.

3) And of course, the reason of highest importance is Mean Girls:

xxo, S

Favourite movies

I recently wrote about movies I've seen countless times and not-so-delicately hinted that I would write a list about my favourite movies. However, while I contemplated this, I realized that a lot of movies I've seen have been in weird circumstances. And that a lot of movies I consider to be my "favourites" I've only seen once.
Back to the weird circumstances, because when I say "weird" people always want to know more about what I mean. So I shall explain.

First off, a few examples of said circumstances:

• The first time I saw my favourite movie was alone, in my room, on my laptop, having rented it from Blockbuster (woah, remember when that still existed?), but I still knew it was my favourite as soon as I finished watching it.
• Watching favourite #2 happened, naturally, when I was in its country of origin, and didn't understand what I was getting myself into by watching a movie with three other random girls - whom I'd just met - crowding around a computer, but am certainly glad that I did see it.
• The first time I saw Mean Girls was in the theaters with my grandma, who was subsequently horrified and demanded to know if people were really like that at my school, to which I insisted there were not (even though there kinda were) to keep her in happy-grandma land.
• I would tell people I had "seen" Star Wars even though I had really only seen the same middle part of it on TV about thirty times, but I knew enough about it that people believed me, which was really cool at the time (a.k.a. in middle school).

And those are just a few examples! I guess watching movies on your computer is not as weird now as it was about six years ago, because of Netflix. But I find it to be a crappy way to experience something as awesome as your favourite film. Except... if it is your favourite already, then you don't really care... and if it's destined to become your favourite, then nothing else really matters. I'M JUST SAYING that movies were not meant to be watched on 15" screens!

Where were we? Oh, right, a list of my favorite movies. Well, here you go! Remember, no judging, but yes a few of them are silly.

26) Inglorious Basterds
25) It's A Wonderful Life (mostly because I've seen it so many times)
24) Citizen Kane
23) Paper Moon
22) Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
21) The Wizard of Oz
20) The Notebook
19) Casino Royale/ Dr. No (tie)
18) The King's Speech
17) Little Miss Sunshine
16) 2001: A Space Odyssey (which I watched on the last day of the year 2001!)
15) Finding Nemo/Wall-E (tie)
14) The Incredibles
13) The Devil Wears Prada
12) Bridesmaids
11) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
10) Pirates of the Caribbean (I do love me some Johnny Depp)
9) 27 Dresses
8) Star Wars IV: A New Hope (but it was originally just Star Wars so can't we just call it that?) 
7) The Departed
6) The Ghost Writer (go watch it)
5) The Hangover
4) Ferris Bueller's Day Off 
3) Forrest Gump (^^because who doesn't love these two movies?!)
2) Jeux d'Enfants
1) Catch Me If You Can

Ta da! The top twenty six. If you haven't seen one (or more, but I can't even fathom that!) then that is what Netflix is for! Unfortunately, you'll probably have to watch it on your computer which brings us back to that whole thing again... but really, isn't that just where cinema is headed anyway? Unless you're watching old movies fo' free somewhere (a-hem, Bryant Park, Mondays, in the summer). Really, I just encourage people to watch more movies because they are so cool.

xxo, S

5 examples of how France is not THAT eco-friendly

1) There is no recycling!
2) They don't use reusable water bottles
3) High-power water sprayers to clean the street every day?! Not eco
4) Their dryers don't work well at all
5) They have fountains that just run all day long. And I doubt all of that water comes from magical, endless underground springs. Or if it does - um, so wasteful!

5 examples of how France is still MORE eco-friendly than the U.S.

1) Their refrigerators, cars, homes, and TVs are all much smaller
2) They don't take long, twenty minute showers
3) Stores charge you for plastic shopping bags, so it's better to BYOB (bring your own bag)
4) They drink a lot of beer and wine. Hey, just saving some water for the fish ;)
5) Laundry lines are used to dry clothes in the open air. Well, for most people (ahem).

Adventures in laundry land

linge (n.) laundry

As some of you may or may not know, my laundry record is rather spotty.

Wait that sounds weird.

My dirty laundry builds up quickly.

That also sounds weird.

WHATEVER. THE POINT IS, my laundry skills are a little bit lacking. Suffice it to say that I haven't done laundry since I've been here (yes, really). I've had (relatively) clean clothes to wear everyday, but approaching week three, it was time to get serious. So today was the day!

My homestay is an apartment, and there isn't a washer/dryer. I had been notified since day one of living here that when the situation arrose, I would simply say, "I need to do laundry" and then I would receive some money to go do so at a laundromat (laverie) around the corner. No prob, right?

WRONG! I hadn't seen my host mom since Friday (when she ran out of the house to an appointment, reminding me as she went that I must only take showers before dinner, never after) and hadn't had the opportunity to ask for laundry instructions. Fortunately, my housemate was up and about earlier this Sunday morning than I was, had managed to receive said laundry instructions, and could walk me through the process.

Ok, so this isn't awful. I just have to gather up my dirty clothes and walk over to the laundromat.

But this girl did not bring a laundry bag with her to France (and that would probably be one of the last things, besides a hairdryer, that I would ever travel with, by the way).

Thankfully, Housemate has a spare XL Ziploc bag for me. All the clothes fit, but I'm worried that the bag will rip. So I stick it all in my one suitcase (with wheels, kinda) and we head out to la laverie.

BUT THE MACHINES ARE VERY CONFUSING!

In France, you don't pick your load size based on "small" or "medium" or even "super." No. Here you do it by kilograms.

DAMN YOU METRIC SYSTEM! YOU HAVE FOILED MY PLAN ONCE MORE!

Each machine is labeled either "10 kg," "6 kg," or "8 kg" based on how much your clothes weigh. Because everyone automatically weighs their laundry. Yes, of course. What a natural thing to do.

Let me tell you that the 6 kilo machine is very, very small or très, très petite. One of these tiny loads costs 3€20 to run, and that doesn't even include detergent and drying!

Since I have darks and lights, I decide to do two loads in two 6 kilo machines. So I load up the washers and stare at it. I am completely lost and don't know what to do. Thank goodness again for Housemate! She takes me through the process - which contains many more confusing steps.

1) Fork over 40 Eurocents (centimes) into shiny wall-mounted control panel

2) Press one shiny button (yes, only one) and receive laundry detergent from second wall-mounted unit

3) Remove small plastic Solo cup that contains your laundry detergent and deposit detergent into washing machine

4) Fork over more money into blinking wall-mounted laundry robot

5) Press one shiny button (just one at a time, now) corresponding to your correct washing machine

6) TOUCH NOTHING ELSE and the machine begins on its own

7) Repeat steps 4-6 for second washing machine

Then me, housemate, and my annoying suitcase walk back home to wait for laundry being done. End of Laundry Wars Episode I: The Laverie Menace.

When we return, there are people inside who are also doing their laundry. At first I panic because we were gone longer than the time it takes to do one (two) loads of wash and this huge sign hangs overhead:

It declares that "People waiting have the right to take out your laundry." And we thought Sundays at DU were bad.

Fortunately, no one had to resort to removing my laundry and was going about their own business. But they seemed equally confused about the process, which made me feel better. If French people can't figure out their own damn laundromats, then I am not obliged to either!

Apparently, the spin cycle does not exist in France. When I went to remove my clothes from the washer, they were all heavy and soaked. Not dripping wet, but still decidedly wet. Realizing that air dry will probably not work on such clothes, I go ahead and pay more money to dry my clothes.

THIS IS THE MOST INFURIATING PART!

For 70 Eurocents, you get a mere 10 minutes of dryer time! So I think to myself, "Ok France, you nuclear-power loving, energy-conscious, progressive, environmentalists, you. Your giant dryers will give me my precious 70 centimes' worth of dry clothes."

OH HOW WRONG I WAS.

As it sounds, 10 minutes is not enough time in the dryer. My clothes came out damp.

Well, we found the French equivalent of the spin cycle.

Having lived in France for a whopping three weeks now, I've walked some. Just some. And I've seen some clothes hanging out to dry. Just some. Out of some windows and on some clotheslines. Just some. So I think to myself again, "Ok France, you voyeuristic, money-saving, traditionalist, small town green movement freaks: Your provincial ways of drying clothes will work for me, too"

WRONG AGAIN! I MUST STOP THINKING TO MYSELF.

(Note to self: stop thinking to self. Wait - no! - stop it, stop it...)

Back at home I go to hang up my clothes around my room, since I have no clothesline. I thought I finally understood the overwhelming plethora of cheap hangers I found in my closet that first day! Here I am, feeling so Snow White about using the fresh air of a Sunday in the South of France to dry my clothes and being all eco when my host mom comes home.

She takes one look at my room (the doors are open so I can air dry even more clothes the French way) and says, "Oh no no. We don't do that. You can't have your clothes hanging around all over the place."

Well, she said that, but in French.

So I get all apologetic, insist that the dryer at the laundromat didn't work, but nope. Still gotta take down all my hard work. She gave me money that it cost to do my laundry (actually she gave me less than it cost, just 5€ because that's all I'm supposed to spend, apparently. Well not when you gotta dry your clothes for 5,987,120 bajillion Euros!!!!!) and that was it.

Very French in her way of just stating facts - what we do and don't do - and leaving it at that. If you don't understand, well, sucks to suck.

Yes. Yes it does suck to suck. Because my clothes will now never, ever, not in a million years get dry. See new method below:

1) Keep clothes on random, assorted, sketchy hangers

2) Stick in closet

3) Pray that they get dry somehow 

4) Save lots of money, earn lots of frustration

End of Laundry Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clothes

Sadly, I don't think that Laundry Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Steph will take place today. But when I do somehow figure out how to dry my goddamn clothes without spending approximately $9,278,074 trillion (not the so-rumored 5 bucks) do not doubt that I won't inform you!

If you remain uninformed, I have probably not discovered this magical mystery method. And it will be more like Laundry Wars Episode IV: No Hope.

Before I leave you, I'd just like to share some evidence that totally supports (read between the lines here, people) my host mom's claim that hanging your clothes to dry does not occur:

xxo, S

Things I never learned how to say in French

It's been nine years since my very first French class, and I've realized there are still many (simple!) things that I don't know how to say. Here are just a few:

"Helpful"
"What time would be best for you?"
"Looking forward to..."
"I feel like crap"
"It was nice to meet you"
"Bar" (turns out it's still "bar")
"I can't wait!"

More to come as I continue on this journey of self-discovery... more about my knowledge gaps, that is.

xxo, S

Quote me on this

I have seen all of these movies many, many, multiple times. Over and over. Again and again. Hundreds of times. Countless times. So many times, in fact, that I could very well quote them all the way to the end.
Gladiator was on recently and my host mom told us how she loves it and it's the only movie she's seen four or five times. Imagine that! Being able to count the movie you've seen the most! Inspired by her love for a movie I've never seen (sorry, Dad) I decided to make this list.

Give me any quote from any of these movies and I can go tip-for-tat on a quote-that-conversation marathon with you. Well, 99% sure I can.
Here are the movies, in no particular order, complete with (what I think is) the best quotes.


1) Mean Girls

Quote: And on the seventh day, God invented the Winchester rifle. So we could shoot the dinosaurs. And the homosexuals. 

Runner-up: Suck onnnnnn THAT!

2) It's A Wonderful Life

Quote: We serve hard drinks to men who wanna get drunk fast.

3) Wall-E

Quote: Diirrrrrrective. 

Runner-up: Wow, I didn't know we had a pool!

4) Up

Quote: "Please let me in Mr. Fredrikson." "No."

5) Finding Nemo

Quote: The EAC, duuuude. 

Runner-up: He touched the butt.

6) The Incredibles

Quote: You sly dog! You got me monologuing! 

Runner-up: ...because leading experts say, Mozart makes babies smarter...

7) Kung Fu Panda

Quote: Noodle, no noodle. Quit, don't quit. We do not know what will be.

8) Catch Me If You Can

Quote: No, no, no... yes, yes, yes!

Runner-up: Two mice fell into a bucket of cream...

9) The Hangover

Quote: It's not a man purse. It's a satchel. Indiana Jones has one.

Did I cheat a little by having five animated films? But aren't they some of the best animated films you've ever seen?!

Of course, I consider all of these to be great movies (although not the best ever made). My absolute favourite movies? We'll just have to wait for another blog post, now won't we?

xxo, S

Start of week two!

Today I learned a few interesting things…

1. Aix is the most expensive city to live in France, outside of Paris.
2. When you buy a TV in France, you must declare it, and pay a tax to have it in your house every year.
3. The French know a lot more about American political history than most Americans. For example, I had never heard of Pinochet until today (could just be my education, but no one else in the class had, either).
4. When someone wishes you “good day!” in France (or “bonne journée!”) you can reply “you too!” by saying “également!” which literally translates to “equally.”
5. The Marchutz School of Art here in Aix (and part of the IAU) is named after Léo Marchutz who was the first to purchase a Cézanne painting.
6. Photography comes from the Greek words phos and graph meaning “light” and “drawing.” As you can see, I had my first photographie class today.

My photo class is Intro to Black and White Photography, and we will be using all digital cameras. So my little Lumix guy will do! While it only meets once a week (on Mondays), we have weeklong assignments. First up, experiment with b&w photos by taking some around Aix. Sounds pretty simple, but even when I was walking around today during the “Golden Hours” of the late afternoon, it was difficult to spot scenes that had interesting lighting. My eyes will be more peeled than potatoes this week!

Also related to film (of a sort) is my cinéma français class. We began our first movie today, Les enfants du paradis (Carné, 1945) and – boy! – do these French actors speak quickly! As difficult as it is to watch old American films, old French films are even harder. But I am determined to understand it all! Having picked up some film criticism knowledge from my class at DU, I am excited to apply it to a new series of cinema masterpieces.

Monday is my most packed day of classes, but in addition, I had an introductory interview for an internship that will be part of my studies here in Aix. So at 5pm (17h) I walked to the top floor of the IAU to wait to get my internship assignment and submit my schedule of hours. Approved by the IAU but not yet by the company, I will be interning (hopefully!!!) for an art events specialist, who works a lot with Italian clients, apparently. No italiano, per favore – I don’t speak any! But no time like the present to learn some! With that checked off my list, I’m just waiting for a second, official interview with my potential-future boss and I will be back to intern-dom.

After such a busy weekend and long school day, I’m glad to have some time to chill and write. It sure doesn’t take long to get tired around here! And now that we’re officially on week two of IAU school, it’s only going to pack my schedule tighter. Fret not! For the weekends are my playtime and I’m researching places to go and things to do. Can anyone say Bordeaux?!

xxo, S